Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Consultants Help With Recruiting

Recruitment of new industry in Arkansas was stepped up recently when two highly- respected professional site consultants took a close look at the facilities Arkansas has to offer for new industries.

Saul Grohs and Ron Ruberg, whose clients include some of the largest companies in America, spent two days in Arkansas touring various industrial sites and meeting with leaders of many communities throughout the state. The visit was sponsored by Entergy's Teamwork Arkansas.

Grohs and Ruberg provided Arkansas business leaders first-hand knowledge of what strategic location professionals are looking for in recommending communities to their clients, how initially communities are screened for their clients, and what is happening nationally with business attraction efforts.

Industries have three reasons to consider small towns, the New Jersery-based consultants told an audience of TeamCity partners, Arkansas Economic Development Commission project managers and community development con-sultants.

They are (1) industries are smaller than ever before; (2) industries like small towns where they don't have to compete with other industries for labor; and (3) industries like a 'small-town' work ethic.

Chandler Russ, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Partnership, was impressed by their expertise.

"These people know what companies want in a location, and they can tell us," he said. "Also, when we meet them, they know who we are and where we're from, and will think of us when a prospect comes along."

That's music to Mike Maulden's ear.

Maulden, director of economic development for Entergy Arkansas, began bringing site selection professionals to Arkansas in June of 1997.

"The objective of the initiative is two-fold," Maulden said. "First, it enables all of us to promote the advantages of doing business in Arkansas and make a favorable impression on people unfamiliar with Arkansas. Secondly, it strengthens relationships with consultants who represent business and industry in the strategic location analysis process.

"I am confident that by focusing in on communities that are preparing for economic development success," Russ continued, "we'll be able to bring more business and jobs to Arkansas. The last few years have been good for Arkansas, but we've got to roll up our sleeves if we want to secure a sound economic future for all Arkansans."

In its first 10 years, Teamwork Arkansas has helped create 62,000 jobs through new and expanding industries. It attracted more then $5 billion in new investment to the state. Teamwork Arkansas invested $20 million in economic development programs and Entergy contributed an additional $18 million to education and community enhancement.

Entergy has committed to doing even more in the coming year to attract industry to the state.

Recently, Teamwork Arkansas announced the TeamCity Partner program to recognize and reward communities in its service area that have made strong commitments to economic development. Some 16 communities have already committed to the program.

"These communities are already on the road to success and they've put a lot of planning and effort into preparing their community to compete with others across the country," Maulden said. "As a Team City Partner, these communities will have the support of one of the south's most aggressive and effective economic development programs."

In late December, Teamwork Arkansas created another economic development tool for its customers a comprehensive resource center in Little Rock filled with the most current and applicable resources on businesses, demographics and trends in the state and nation.